Photochemical Reaction

What is a photochemical reaction?

Photochemical reaction is none other than a chemical reaction that starts with light being absorbed as a form of energy. Temporary peak states would be triggered while the molecules absorb light and there would be physical and chemical property differences to a large extent from the real molecules. The resultant chemical structures could be separated, modified, mixed among the similar or different molecules along with the transfer of hydrogen atoms, electronic charge to separate molecules, protons, and electrons. The peak states in comparison to the real ground states are stronger reductants and acids that are stronger.

Role of Photochemical reaction in Photosynthesis:

Photosynthesis that is the final property of the process that is one of the widely discussed topics in the world as it sustains the life on planet Earth. Using photosynthesis, plants would convert the sunlight energy into the chemical energy being stored and thereby form carbohydrates using water and carbon dioxide and releases oxygen as a byproduct of the reaction. Animal life is sustained with the aid of oxygen and carbohydrates.

Photochemical reaction Examples:

The majority of processes on the other hand that we see in nature are photochemical ones. Our own ability to see the things in the world using the eyes is nothing but a photochemical reaction where a retinal that happens to be rhodopsin (photoreceptor cell molecule) changes its shape after sunlight or light absorption. The Vitamin D which is required for bone and teeth development and even functioning of Kidney while helping skin growth is the chemical 7-dehydrocholesterol produced after exposure to sunlight.

Ozone layer that is found in the earth’s stratosphere is formed by the photochemical dissociation of molecular oxygen into oxygen atoms and these atoms reacting with molecules of oxygen to form ozone. The UltraViolet (UV) rays that are harmful to the human DNA and skin cancer likes are caused by photochemical reaction.

Different sorts of commercial processes and devices are heavily influenced by photochemical reactions and its peak states. Activities that we encounter in our daily lives like xerography, photography and so on are based on photochemical processes whereas complex activities like manufacturing of semiconductor chips, printing of newspapers are done by the aid of UV rays.

The examples explained above would have given you a fair idea about how chemical reactions like the photochemical ones have a major impact on our daily lives without which it would be impossible for life to sustain on our planet.

Practise This Question

We need to store 1l of cold water in warm weather for as long as possible. In which of the following shapes should a flask be built for the task. Assume the thickness and material are same for all the shapes.

Practise This Question

I have a glass of water at room temperature, kept inside a closed room. I get a hot mug of coffee, keep it on another table, and get so busy I completely forget about it. As the coffee cools down, what happens to the temperature of the glass of water?